Beginning Friday, May 1, Inova’s hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers plan to resume non-urgent/elective procedures using a measured approach. Inova suspended elective surgical procedures in March to ensure patient safety and preserve key resources, prior to Governor Northam’s Order of Public Health Emergency suspending elective procedures statewide. In the interim, Inova has established a non-urgent surgical workflow to ensure we maintain the inpatient capacity and critical resource capability to safely and appropriately care for all patients at our facilities. This includes personal protective equipment, testing availability, staffing, etc. 
 

While we are prepared to resume elective procedures on May 1, Inova’s number one priority remains the safety of patients while simultaneously protecting our teams, conserving PPE and assuring we maintain a constant state of readiness.

For more information, please watch the linked video from Dr. Steve Motew, Chief of Inova’s Clinical Enterprise, on how Inova is prioritizing safety in our return to non-urgent/elective procedures.

What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?

• Seek advice from your regular healthcare provider to determine if a medical evaluation is needed.
• If you feel it is an emergency, contact a local urgent care center, Respiratory Illness Clinic, or emergency room. Ask for instructions regarding accessing the facility;
• Practice “social distancing” by avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet) from others when possible;
• If you are experiencing a fever or symptoms of respiratory infection, such as cough or difficulty breathing, or had exposure to a COVID-19 patient and traveled to a high-risk area classified by the CDC, please contact Inova at 855-IMG-DOCS so we can assist you and arrange a clinic appointment if needed. Unless it is an emergency, please do not show up at an Inova site for COVID-19 screening without calling ahead.

Is COVID-19 testing available through Inova?

Yes, testing is available across Inova Health System based on clinical criteria outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health.

Inova has established Respiratory Illness Clinics to evaluate all patients with respiratory illness symptoms. These clinics will also be able to collect samples via physician ordered and coordinated vehicle-side appointments for COVID-19 testing. All Inova Hospital and HealthPlex emergency rooms are a resource for those individuals who are experiencing clinical symptoms of COVID-19 that include cough, fever and shortness of breath.

Please see the following hours and status for Inova Respiratory Illness Clinics and Urgent Care Centers:

• Inova Urgent Care Centers at Dulles South, Tysons and North Arlington are operating as Respiratory Illness Clinics and only evaluating patients with respiratory illness symptoms.
  • North Arlington Respiratory Illness Clinic is operating Monday-Friday from 8AM-8PM
  • Inova Primary Care – Old Town Alexandria operates as a Respiratory Illness Clinic *by appointment only* Monday-Friday from 1PM-4:30PM. To schedule a respiratory evaluation at the Old Town office, patients should call (703) 683-7220.  
  • Our Respiratory Illness Clinics are able to collect samples via physician ordered and coordinated vehicle-side appointments for COVID-19 testing, as well as screen patients for COVID-19 symptoms. For more information, visit the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic webpage.
  • All other Inova Urgent Care Locations are seeing non-respiratory patients only. For addresses and hours, visit the Inova Urgent Care webpage.

Before visiting any Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic, take the following steps:

1. Contact your regular physician for evaluation.  For assistance with recommendations, to arrange for a physician appointment, or if you do not have a primary care physician, call 1-855-IMG-DOCS.

2. Your regular physician should evaluate your symptoms to determine if testing is needed based on COVID-19 testing criteria, provide a testing order, and coordinate your referral to the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic for evaluation.

3. Upon arrival at the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic, a clinician will greet the patient at their vehicle to collect samples for a physician-ordered test, or escort the patient into the respiratory clinic for evaluation.

4. For patients who undergo COVID-19 testing, an Inova nurse will contact those whose results are negative. For patients with positive results, an Inova nurse will coordinate with the patient’s regular physician for notification and further instructions. Patients who are tested can expect results in roughly 2-4 days.

5. Visit the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic webpage for more information.

Inova Urgent Care – N. Arlington (8AM-8PM, Monday-Friday)
4600 Lee Hwy.
Arlington, VA  22207
571-492-3080

Inova Primary Care – Old Town Alexandria (By Appointment Only, 1:00-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday)
325 South Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-683-7220

---